In the midst of more serious repercussions for misconduct, are officers with the Denver Police Department laying low, avoiding citizen contact whenever possible? The Denver Post suggests fear of discipline may be driving lower contact numbers across the city, though the union says there’s “no organized work slowdown.” [Read more…]
Accountability Shown In Firings Of Denver Police Officers
We’re only four months into 2011 and already six members of the Denver Police Department have been fired. Just this week two more were fired, not for their inappropriate uses of force (caught on camera here), but for lying about the incident after the fact. [Read more…]
Possible Prostitution Law Changes In Colorado
Right now if you were to be stopped by the police for solicitation of a prostitute, you would be fined $75. This is less than the fine for littering. Lawmakers in Colorado are trying to change this imbalance by increasing penalties for prostitution customers, more commonly known as “johns”. [Read more…]
Potential Colorado Hate Crime Bill Expansion
Passed through the Senate Finance Committee and now on to the Senate Appropriations Committee, a bill that would expand the Colorado hate crimes law may be on its way to the floor of the legislature if some get their way. The bill seeks to include “homeless people” amongst those populations protected by the law, an expansion that many find to be overreaching. [Read more…]
Tragic Case Highlights Issues with Plea Agreements
A several-time felon who had received multiple second chances is now charged with first degree murder in the death and mutilation of his sixteen year old neighbor girl. The Denver Post is reporting his case is an example on how budgetary constraints are forcing courts to release dangerous individuals who would be best served behind bars. While this may be true in this particular case, one shouldn’t forget that such tragedies are extremely rare. [Read more…]
Pueblo, CO Officials Contesting Crime Stats
The Police Chief and several other officials in Pueblo are up in arms over a book which states the town has the highest crime rate in all of Colorado. One look at this article from The Pueblo Chieftan reveals some interesting points—that perhaps the people in charge are paying a little too much attention to statistics and how they are viewed than the real problems. [Read more…]
Colorado Voters Reject Tougher Bail Standards
Of the many issues before voters yesterday, Proposition 102 was just one that was struck down. But it was an important victory and evidence that the voting public won’t be fooled by “tough on crime” rhetoric when it’s carelessly used to sell a standard that’s too far off the course of true justice. [Read more…]
In Colorado Menacing Case, Ex Death Row Inmate Gets Probation
A Nebraska man now living in Denver was sentenced last week for menacing a teenage girl in a suburban parking lot. Originally charged with a felony, the misdemeanor he was convicted on carried 3 years of probation and 75 hours of community service. What makes this story interesting, however, is the man’s background and some eerie similarities to this case and one nearly twenty years ago. [Read more…]
Colorado Considers Telling Judges Price Tags on Imprisonment
Recently, the New York Times profiled a new practice within the Missouri criminal courts. Judges are being told just how much incarceration will cost at the sentencing stage. Now, Colorado’s Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice is toying with implementing the practice here, something that not everyone approves of. [Read more…]
Denver Police Chief Speaks Out In Brutality Cases
A Citizen Oversight Board which is tasked for reviewing police action recently released two reports, both taking issue with the level of punishment meted out in two separate cases of police misconduct. The Chief of Police is questioning the process by which the Board reviews cases and claims law enforcement doesn’t have the chance to defend their actions before an opinion is reached. [Read more…]